5C-7.016. Definitions

(1) Accredited Tuberculosis-Free Herd (Cattle, Bison or Dairy Goats). A herd of one of these species that has passed at least two consecutive annual herd tests of all eligible animals, has no other evidence of bovine tuberculosis, and meets the standards of this chapter.

(2) Accredited Tuberculosis-Free Herd (Cervidae). A herd of cervidae that has passed at least three consecutive annual herd tests of all eligible animals, has no other evidence of bovine tuberculosis, and meets the standards of this chapter.

(3) Accredited Tuberculosis-Free State. A state which maintains full compliance with all of the provisions of this chapter and where no evidence of bovine tuberculosis has been disclosed for five or more years.

(4) Accredited Veterinarian. A veterinarian approved by the Deputy Administrator, United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services (USDA, APHIS, VS), in accordance with provisions of 9 C.F.R. 161 (1992), to perform certain functions of federal and cooperative state-federal programs.

(5) Affected Herd. A herd of cattle, bison, dairy goats, or cervidae which contains or has contained one or more animals infected with Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis), and which has not passed the required tests prescribed by this chapter for release from quarantine.

(6) Annual Herd Tests. Tests conducted at intervals of not less than 10 months nor more than 14 months.

(7) Approved Full-Time State or Federal Veterinarian. A veterinarian employed full-time by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services or by the USDA and who has received special training and approval to conduct the comparative cervical test.

(8) Bison. Bovine-like animals of the genus Bison, also commonly referred to as American buffalo or buffalo.

(9) Blood Tuberculosis (BTB) Test. A supplemental test for bovine tuberculosis in cervidae. The BTB test may be used as a supplemental test to establish the disease status of a herd.

(10) Bovine Tuberculosis. A disease in cattle, bison, dairy goats, or cervidae caused by M. bovis.

(11) Cattle. All domestic animals of the genus Bos, regardless of age.

(12) Caudal Fold Test. The intradermal injection of 0.1 milliliter of USDA Bovine Purified Protein Derivative (PPD) Tuberculin into either side of the caudal fold, with a reading by visual observation and palpation 72 hours (plus or minus six hours) following injection.

(13) Cervidae. All species of deer, elk and moose raised under agricultural conditions for the production of meat, the production of other agricultural products, sport, or exhibition.

(14) Comparative Cervical Test (CCT). The intradermal injection of biologically balanced bovine PPD tuberculin and avian PPD tuberculin at separate sites in the cervical area and a determination as to the probable presence of bovine tuberculosis by comparing the responses of the two injection sites 72 hours (plus or minus six hours) following injection.

(15) Compatible Lesion. A pathological tissue change which has characteristics comparable to tissue changes caused by M. bovis.

(16) Dairy Goats. Domestic animals of the genus Capra, kept for the purpose of producing milk for human consumption.

(17) Department. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

(18) Epidemiologist. A veterinarian who has received a master’s degree in epidemiology or has completed a course of studying epidemiology sponsored or approved by USDA, APHIS, VS.

(19) Exposed Animals. Cattle, bison, dairy goats, swine or cervidae exposed to bovine tuberculosis by reason of association with known tuberculous animals.

(20) Group. One or more animals.

(21) Herd. A group of cattle, bison, dairy goats or cervidae maintained on common ground; or two or more groups of cattle, bison, dairy goats or cervidae under common ownership or supervision, geographically separated, but which have an interchange or movement without regard to health status.

(22) Herd Depopulation. Removal of all cattle, bison, swine, or cervidae in a herd which have been exposed to bovine tuberculosis, directly to slaughter prior to any restocking of the premises with cattle, bison, swine or cervidae.

(23) Modified Accredited State. A state which is actively participating in the eradication of bovine tuberculosis and which maintains its status in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

(24) Natural Additions. Animals born and raised in a herd.

(25) Negative Animals. Any cattle, bison, dairy goats, or cervidae that show no response to a tuberculin test or have been classified negative by the testing veterinarian following the application of the CCT.

(26) No Gross Lesion (NGL) Animals. Any cattle, bison, dairy goats, or cervidae which do not reveal (a) lesion(s) of bovine tuberculosis upon postmortem inspection. An animal with skin lesions only will be considered in the same category as an NGL animal.

(27) Official Eartag. A metal identification eartag which provides unique identification for each individual animal by conforming to the nine-character, alpha-numeric National Uniform Eartagging System in accordance with provisions of 9 C.F.R. 78.1.

(28) Permit. USDA, APHIS, VS Form 1-27, issued by a USDA representative, state representative, or accredited veterinarian, is required to accompany reactor, suspect, or exposed cattle, bison, swine, or cervidae to slaughter or when moved for any other purpose. It will list the reactor tag number or official eartag number in the case of suspect cattle, bison or cervidae, and exposed cattle, bison, swine, or cervidae; owner’s name and address; origin and destination locations; number of cattle, bison, swine, or cervidae covered; and the purpose of the movement. No diversion from the permitted destination is allowed.

(29) Reactor. Any cattle, bison, dairy goat, or cervid which shows a response to a tuberculin test and is classified a reactor by the testing veterinarian.

(30) Regional Tuberculosis Epidemiologist. The epidemiologist who is assigned to the USDA, APHIS, VS Regional Office with responsibility to provide technical oversight of all tuberculosis regulation in the region.

(31) Single Cervical Test (SCT). The intradermal injection of 0.1 milliliter of USDA Bovine PPD Tuberculin in the cervical (neck) region with a reading by visual observation and palpation 72 hours (plus or minus six hours) following injection.

(32) Suspect. Any cattle, bison, or dairy goat which shows a response to the caudal fold test and is not classified as a reactor or which has been classified as a suspect by a CCT; and a cervid which shows a response to the SCT and has not been classified as a reactor.

(33) Tuberculin. A product that is approved by and produced under license of the USDA for injection into cattle, bison, dairy goats, or cervidae for the purpose of detecting bovine.

(34) Tuberculin Test. A test for tuberculosis applied and reported by approved personnel in accordance with this chapter.

(35) Forms and Materials. Title 9 C.F.R. 161 (1992) and 78.1 (1992) and USDA, APHIS, VS Form 1-27, effective Dec. 1980, are hereby incorporated by reference. Copies may be obtained from the United States Government Printing Office, Superintendent of Documents, Mail Stop SSOP, Washington, D.C. 20402-9328.

Rulemaking Authority 585.002(3), 585.08(2) FS. Law Implemented 585.002(3), 585.08(2), 585.145(1), (2), 585.15, 585.16 FS. History–New 10-6-93.